"followers only" blog content

[CTRandall]

I'm considering setting up a "followers only" section of my blog, offering short stories and (eventually) promotions and special events just to people who follow my blog. Part of me hates the idea. Ideally, I'd like to keep the whole blog open to everyone. But I also wonder if it would be a good way to build an audience for future book releases.

To be clear, I would continue to regularly post short items that are visible to everyone. I anticipate followers getting maybe three short stories a year (multi-thousand word) and possible access to special artwork, special book copies and maybe special prices.

Has anyone tried this? How well did it work? And how annoying do you find it when you come across bloggers who ask you to sign up?

 

[tinkerdan]

I don't see a problem with this; however I never had enough traffic to justify having a section that might involve having to login to the website.

However a lot of writers I read have a registration--whereby they get your email address so that they can send you updates on their latest work.

I could see taking that, coupled with what you're trying to achieve to where you might require login for specific giveaway material that requires an email so you can keep in touch with the people who sign up for the free stuff. (Downloadable content is alright; however it creates a level of insecurity for some users and if there are too many steps involved to get the content to download I usually give up unless is something I just have to have.)

To be honest though I think the way the web is shaped giving away content without any added steps is probably the better way to go; however it doesn't get you those email addresses.

It's a double edged sword and two sides of same coin kind of thing that's grown out of the very nature of the web--Websites with overt advertising offer paid services to eliminate the advertisements--offer login services to minimize the advertisements--free service with all the ads. These sites only make sense when they are related to something that is a popular, possibly even iconic, product and service.

Putting those up on something unknown or obscure can be like putting up a wall with a notice that says:'we don't want certain people to come in here.'

It really devolves to what your intent is.

 

[The Big Peat]

Just to check I've got this right - you want to set up a section of your blog with cool extra stuff for people who subscribe to your blog updates?

 

[Cathbad]

I'll sign up!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I suspect you’d be better building a mailing list

 

[CTRandall]

Just to check I've got this right - you want to set up a section of your blog with cool extra stuff for people who subscribe to your blog updates?

That's the idea. The point is that all of the followers automatically receive emails when I put up a new post, including about book releases, etc. The special content is an enticement (and hopefully they enjoy it!), though I'll still have content open to all visitors.

How is that different from a mailing list?

@Cathbad, thanks for the vote of confidence!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

The difference is that blog readers generally don’t convert to sales where mailing lists do

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Says me with a blog following and about 40 people on my mailing list

 

[The Big Peat]

The difference is that blog readers generally don’t convert to sales where mailing lists do

But if every pertinent update goes on the blog, what's the difference between a mailing list of blog subscribers and an ordinary mailing list? Do people really have that big a perception difference between them?


In any case - a lot of people have talked up getting readers to give your their email address and the importance of incentive, so you're on the right track. However, I'm not sure its big enough as an incentive to be worth holding it back instead of using it as extra publicity. There's people giving away whole books out there (which, incidentally, I barely ever read).

I dunno whether to say go for it or not tbh. Could work out either way.

Only thing I would say is that I reckon sending extra content on a mailing list is going to be easier than having a password protected bit on a blog anyway.

 

[CTRandall]

Do you literally mean a mailing list? As in a 20th century type thing? (I'm not being sarcastic! Okay, maybe just a little ☺.) Are you gathering names/emails of people who specifically say they're interested in your books as something separate from followers?

Sorry if my questions seem naive! I avoided social media for years and am still familiarizing myself with 21st century forms self-promotion.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Do you literally mean a mailing list? As in a 20th century type thing? (I'm not being sarcastic! Okay, maybe just a little ☺.) Are you gathering names/emails of people who specifically say they're interested in your books as something separate from followers?

Sorry if my questions seem naive! I avoided social media for years and am still familiarizing myself with 21st century forms self-promotion.

My website has an option to sign up for my very infrequent newsletters. This month, for instance, I sent out a little short I wrote for an event and that’s an exclusive.

I am not good at this sort of marketing. I’m chatty and mostly have mates who put up with me on SM and even sometimes buy my books!

But some nail mailing lists - and they’re the peeps who kill Amazon sales

 

[CTRandall]

Ah, my slow brain is getting it. My "followers only" idea has pretty much the same goal as a newsletter. The difference is sending out the newsletter vs. followers having to log in.

I need to think about this and experiment with my blog a bit. Thanks everyone for your comments! This has helped clarify the options for me.

 

[The Big Peat]

Two further thoughts of the top of my head that may be useful

- People are lazy. Free content that you just open an email to receive beats free content you've got to a blog for and then log in

- People are lazy mk 2. I often delete blog post emails unread, particularly from people here as I know I'll see it again the "What are you blogging" thread when I'm ready to read it. People are more likely to tune out what they receive often.

This also means you ideally want a difference between your Mailing list name and your blog name, or people will confuse the two and ignore/delete that too.

 

[airsophia]

If you want to do this exclusive thing why not try patreon?

 

[CTRandall]

Thanks for those ideas. The more I experiment with my web site, the more I lean towards a newsletter. @The Big Peat Thanks for the idea about a distinct email address for the newsletter. I pretty much follow your model of deleting emails and checking blogs later, so an obviously different email is essential.

 

[airsophia]

The conversion of Newsletters has a record high statistically compared to social media. I'd also recommend the newsletter variation. But make sure your CTA is everywhere.